Vacuum assisted wall climbing toy

ABSTRACT

The toy of the subject invention is an action figure or plush character toy that climbs or moves on walls and other vertical surfaces by means of suction adhesion. The toy could also crawl across the floor. The toy has suction cups on its arms and legs that allow it to adhere to the wall by selective sequential application and release of a vacuum. A swiveling motion at the waist of the toy provides the means for locomotion. Arms and legs lift off the wall and make contact in a way that advances across the wall.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/754,872, filed Dec. 29, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention pertains to wall climbing toys, and morespecifically to wall climbing toys employing suction cups under which avacuum is sequentially applied and released.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,503,152 to Aoki et al. discloses a wall climbingamusement device having centrally-hinged limbs, each of said limbshaving suction cups thereon which are alternatively actuated by a vacuumpump and turned by a motor to allow the device to traverse a verticalsurface.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,525 to Pack et al. discloses a centrally hinged wallclimbing robot with suction cups on each of its limbs, the actuation ofwhich are timed along with the movement of each limb to affect an“inch-worm” like movement up a vertical surface.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0119726 to Wilk discloses atoy using a vacuum pump, valves, and motors in coordination with limbshaving suctions cups on the bottoms thereof to allow the robot to walkon walls and ceilings.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,346 to Yberle discloses a four-sided wall climbingrobot with suction cups at the end of limbs which are moved in unisonwith the actuation of gripping suction cups and the movement of thenon-gripping suction cups.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,510 to Collie discloses a four-sided wall climbingrobot which utilizes a vacuum pump to remove air from a suction cup viaactuation of a valve timed for movement of the robot along a verticalsurface.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,009 to Wolfe et al. discloses a robot which hassuction cups on various limbs that are actuated by valve-controlledejectors and motors timed to move the limbs of the robot in sequence toafford movement.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,658 to Danel et al. discloses a vehicle able to walkon vertical surfaces using vacuum-actuated suction cups on limbs whichare moved in sequence along with the activation and deactivation of thevacuum.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,258,500 to Anderson discloses a wall climbing toy usingsuction cups on the ends of limbs and a motor to move the limbs to movethe toy up the wall.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,259 to Pin-Huang discloses an amusement devicehaving suction cups on limbs which are sequentially moved by a motor toallow the device to climb a wall.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,572 to Sze discloses legs for a toy having a motorthat operates to open a valve in a suction cup on the bottom of each legto release a vacuum in the suction cup before movement of the leg.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,199 to Locricchio discloses a manually actuated toyhaving legs with suction cups on the bottoms thereof which aredeactivated upon the opening of a valve in the suction cup the leg islifted in a waling movement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The toy of the subject invention is an action figure or plush charactertoy that climbs or moves on walls and other vertical surfaces by meansof suction adhesion. The toy could also crawl across the floor. The toyhas suction cups on its arms and legs that allow it to adhere to thewall by selective sequential application and release of a vacuum. Aswiveling motion at the waist of the toy provides the means forlocomotion. Arms and legs lift off the wall and make contact in a waythat advances across the wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of the toy of the subject invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the toy of the subject invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the toy of the subject invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the locomotion and wall adhesion components ofthe toy of the subject invention;

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the vacuum release valve of the toy of thesubject invention.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a second embodiment of the subject invention;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the vacuum release valve of the secondembodiment of the subject invention;

FIG. 8 is an exposed side view of the vacuum release valve holding avacuum of the second embodiment of the subject invention; and

FIG. 9 is an exposed side view of the vacuum release valve during vacuumrelease of the second embodiment of the subject invention.

These and other subjects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent in light of the following detaileddescription of a best mode embodiment thereof, as illustrated in theaccompanying Drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, the toy of the subject inventionincludes: two vacuum bellows pumps 102 and 103 powered by a bellows gearmotor 104; two air tube systems 106 and 108; four ribbed suction cups110; two spring-loaded release valves 112 and 114; one articulatedchassis/frame 116 and 117; and one drive crankshaft 118 powered by adrive gear motor 120.

A. Vacuum Bellows

This toy 100 of the subject invention adheres to walls through the useof two independent vacuum systems. Two vacuum bellows pumps 102 beingmoved in and out with a reciprocating bellows crankshaft 122 or camshaftcreate the vacuum. A single electric bellows gear motor 104 powers bothvacuum bellows. There are vacuum release valves 112 and 114 in eachbellows assembly that causes the airflow to move in one directionthrough the network of tubing, pulling air in through the suction cups114 to create a vacuum.

B. Air Tube Systems

The suction cups 110 on right arm and left leg are fed by one vacuumpump bellows 102. Another vacuum bellows pump 103 feeds the suction cupson left arm and right leg. There is preferably a single air line fromeach vacuum bellows pump 102 or 103 that splits into two, one tubeattaching to each of the two suction cups 114 fed by that vacuum bellowspump 102 or 103.

C. Spring Loaded Vacuum Release Valves

The spring loaded vacuum release valves 112 and 114 are located in eachof the two arm suction cups 110. When one arm and its opposite leg pullaway from the wall, the air seal is broken as the force of the arm beingpulled opens the associated release valve 112 or 114, detaching thosesuction cups 110 from the wall.

D. Ribbed Suction Cups

The suction cups 110 associated with each arm and leg preferably havemultiple concentric ribs 124 on the inner surface in order to create afew separate independent seals. They also serve as traction treads.

E. Articulated Chassis/Frame

The chassis of the toy 100 has all components mounted on it, and theoverall shape represents a human, animal, or vehicular figure with itslimbs outstretched. There is articulation at the waist that allows it toswivel in order to facilitate pivoting movement of the upper frame 116of the chassis relative to the lower frame 117 of the chassis.

F. Drive Crankshaft

The drive crankshaft 118 of the toy 100 is powered by an independentdrive gear motor 120. Two opposing cranks on each end of the drive crankshaft 118 are mounted in the lower frame 117. The two opposing cranksare trapped in two fixed points in the upper frame 116, which causes thetoy 100 to gyrate or pivot at the center waist portion.

The sequence of events of the operation of the subject invention is asfollows:

A switch 126 on the toy 100 activates the two battery 128 operatedmotors 104 and 120 at once. The toy 100 starts swiveling at the waistand the vacuum bellow pumps 102 and 103 are activated, pulling airthrough the suction cups 110. The toy 100 is then placed against asmooth wall.

Assume that the right arm and left leg of the toy are making contactwith the wall at a given point. The left arm and right leg will swivelas the upper frame 116 and lower frame 117 portions pivot with respectto each other, and make contact with, and are held firmly to, the walldue to the vacuum created under the left arm and right leg suction cups110. Also at this time, the right arm and left leg, already attached tothe wall, will pull away from the wall. More specifically, the vacuumrelease valve 114 associated with the right suction cup 110 will beopened by the force of the drive gear motor 120 lifting the right armsuction cup from the wall, which results in release of the vacuum underboth the right arm suction cup 110 and the left leg suction cup 110 asthey share the same air tube vacuum system 108.

Next, the right arm and left leg advance as the upper frame 116 andlower frame 1117 portions pivot in the opposite directions of theirprior motion described above. Contemporaneously with the above describedmovement of the right arm and left leg portions and subsequentreattachment thereof, the left arm and right leg suction cups 110 arepulled off of the wall (just after the right arm and left leg suctioncups reattach to the wall) as the vacuum release valve 112 associatedwith the left arm is opened by the force of the drive gear motor 120lifting the left arm suction cup 110 from the wall which results inrelease of the vacuum under both the left arm suction cup and rightsuction cup 110 as they share the same vacuum air tube system 106.

Referring specifically to FIG. 5, spring loaded release valve 112located on the left arm portion of toy 100 and spring loaded releasevalve 114 located on the right arm portion of toy 100 are nextdescribed. Each of the valves 112 and 114 are attached to frame 130 andare in air communication with a ribbed suction cup 110. Vacuumconnection 132 provides vacuum to ribbed suction cup 110 through valves112 and 114. Compression spring 134 biases airway block 136 havingo-ring seal 138 toward plunger 140 such that o-ring seal 138 and plunger140 initially form an air seal. The movement of toy 100 that lifts thearm portion associated with valve 112 or 114 will cause airway block 136to move against the bias of compression spring 134 and toward ribbedsuction cup 110 thus breaking the air seal between o-ring seal 138 onairway block 136 and plunger 140 which results in air/vacuum release byrelease valve 112 or release valve 114.

Next referring to FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 in which a second embodiment of thesubject invention is shown, the first embodiment thereof is incorporatedby reference and elements and element numbers therein referred to indiscussion of the second embodiment of the subject invention arespecifically so incorporated in the second embodiment. FIG. 6 shows atop view of the second embodiment. Instead of vacuum bellows pumps 102and 103 of the first embodiment, traditional vacuum motors 142 and 144well known in the art are employed. Additionally, instead of springloaded release valve 112 located on the left arm portion of toy 100 andspring loaded release valve 114 located on the right arm portion of toy100, as shown in the first embodiment, the second embodiment employsfirst membrane valve 146 in vacuum communication with air tube system108 and second membrane valve 148 in vacuum communication with air tubesystem 106. Instead of being located on the left arm portion and rightarm portion of toy 100, first membrane valve 146 and second membranevalve 148 are located within lower articulated frame 117 of the toy 100.

The operation of the second embodiment of the subject invention is nextdescribed. An infrared remote control well known in the art can beemployed to facilitate the below operation. Power to vacuum motors 142and 144 and to drive gear motor 120 is separately applied. Toy 100 isthen placed on a wall, ceiling or floor. Vacuum motors 142 and 144 arethen deactivated while drive gear motor 120 remains activated to movetoy 100. While toy 100 is moving, this motion along with intermittentwall contact provides a pumping action through air tube system 100 andair tube system 108 sufficient to maintain a vacuum that will adhere toy100 to a wall or ceiling without use of vacuum motors 142 and 144.

Next referring to FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 first membrane valve 146 and secondmembrane valve 148 of the second embodiment are described in detail.Each of first membrane valve 146 and second membrane valve 148 has atubular base 150 with air passageways 152 that connect with air tubesystem 106 or air tube system 108. Membrane 154 is located in tubularbase 150 and is secured therein by cap 156.

Next referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the functioning of first membrane valve146 and second membrane valve 148 is described. Membrane 154 of firstmembrane valve 146 and second membrane valve 148 are comprised of aflexible yet resilient organic polymer and are dome shaped by deformablewith sufficient resilience to return to their initial dome shape asshown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Each membrane 154 has slits 156, preferablyx-shaped, in the top thereof. Slits 156 are air/vacuum tight whenmembrane 154 is in the vacuum retaining configuration of FIG. 8 whereinmembrane 154 is dome shaped. Slits 156 are not air/vacuum tight, butinstead opens to release the vacuum, when membrane 154 Is in thedeformed non-dome shape of FIG. 9. The deformation of membrane 154 andopening of slits 156 to release the vacuum through air passageways 152or FIG. 9 is initiated by the force of the ribbed suction cup 110 beingpulled away as an arm or leg portion of toy 100 lifts from a wall orceiling.

1. A toy movable on, and vacuum attachable to, horizontal and verticalsurfaces comprising: a body having an upper portion and a lower portion,the upper portion and the lower portion being pivotally connected forswinging movement therebetween; at least four limbs connected to thebody including a left upper, right upper, left lower and right lower,the left upper and right lower defining a first opposite limb group andthe right upper and left lower defining a second opposite limb group;suction cups on each of the at least four limbs of the first oppositelimb group and the second opposite limb group, the suction cups eachhaving an interior with a vacuum passageway therethrough; first vacuumpassages in vacuum communication with the first opposite limb group andwith the vacuum passageways of the suction cups thereon; second vacuumpassages in vacuum communication with the second opposite limb group andwith the vacuum passageways of the suction cups thereon; a first vacuumrelease valve in vacuum communication with the vacuum passageway of atleast one of the suction cups on the first opposite limb group; a secondvacuum release valve in vacuum communication with the vacuum passagewayof at least one of the suction cups on the second opposite limb group; amotor causing the swinging movement between the upper portion of thebody and the lower portion of the body; a motor creating a vacuum in thefirst vacuum passages and in the second vacuum passages, the vacuumbeing released alternately in the first opposite limb group and in thesecond opposite limb group by one of the first vacuum release valve andthe second vacuum release valve during alternate disengagement from thehorizontal or vertical surfaces of the first opposite limb group and thesecond opposite limb group based upon the swinging movement between theupper portion of the body and the lower portion of the body.
 2. The toyof claim 1 further comprising a remote control to control the motorcausing the swinging movement and the motor creating a vacuum.
 3. Thetoy of claim 1 wherein the suction cups have on the interior thereofridges forming concentric rings that provide traction and that formindependent vacuum seal chambers.
 4. The toy of claim 1 wherein themotor creating a vacuum includes flexible bellows for vacuum formation.5. The toy of claim 1 wherein the first vacuum release valve and thesecond vacuum release valve each include a membrane with slitstherethrough, the membrane being resiliently deformable from an initialvacuum tight configuration with the slits closed to a subsequentdeformed configuration in which the slits open to release the vacuum. 6.The toy of claim 1 wherein the first vacuum release valve and the secondvacuum release valve each include a compression spring that initiallybiases a vacuum passageway block that has a seal thereon toward aplunger on the vacuum release valve for the seal and the plunger toinitially form a vacuum seal.
 7. The toy of claim 1 wherein the firstvacuum release valve is on the at least one of the suction cups of thefirst opposite limb group and the second vacuum release valve is on theat least one of the suction cups of the second opposite limb group. 8.The toy of claim 1 wherein the first vacuum release valve and the secondvacuum release valve are in the lower portion of the body.
 9. The toy ofclaim 1 wherein the motor creating a vacuum is activated continuouslyduring the movement of the toy.
 10. The toy of claim 1 wherein the motorcreating a vacuum is deactivated upon movement of the toy.
 11. A toymovable on, and vacuum attachable to, horizontal and vertical surfacescomprising: a body having an upper portion and a lower portion, theupper portion and the lower portion being pivotally connected forswinging movement therebetween; at least four limbs connected to thebody including a left upper, right upper, left lower and right lower,the left upper and right lower defining a first opposite limb group andthe right upper and left lower defining a second opposite limb group;suction cups on each of the at least four limbs of the first oppositelimb group and the second opposite limb group, the suction cups eachhaving an interior with a vacuum passageway therethrough; first vacuumpassages in vacuum communication with the first opposite limb group andwith the vacuum passageways of the suction cups thereon; second vacuumpassages in vacuum communication with the second opposite limb group andwith the vacuum passageways of the suction cups thereon; a first vacuumrelease valve in vacuum communication with the vacuum passageway of atleast one of the suction cups on the first opposite limb group, thefirst vacuum release valve on the at least one of the suction cups ofthe first opposite limb group; a second vacuum release valve in vacuumcommunication with the vacuum passageway of at least one of the suctioncups on the second opposite limb group, the second vacuum release valveon the at least one of the suction cups of the second opposite limbgroup; a motor causing the swinging movement between the upper portionof the body and the lower portion of the body; a motor creating a vacuumin the first vacuum passages and in the second vacuum passages, themotor creating a vacuum being activated continuously during the movementof the toy, the vacuum being released alternately in the first oppositelimb group and in the second opposite limb group by one of the firstvacuum release valve and the second vacuum release valve duringalternate disengagement from the horizontal or vertical surfaces of thefirst opposite limb group and the second opposite limb group based uponthe swinging movement between the upper portion of the body and thelower portion of the body.
 12. The toy of claim 11 further comprising aremote control to control the motor causing the swinging movement andthe motor creating a vacuum.
 13. The toy of claim 11 wherein the suctioncups have on the interior thereof ridges forming concentric rings thatprovide traction and that form independent vacuum seal chambers.
 14. Thetoy of claim 11 wherein the motor creating a vacuum includes flexiblebellows for vacuum formation.
 15. The toy of claim 11 wherein the firstvacuum release valve and the second vacuum release valve each include amembrane with slits therethrough, the membrane being resilientlydeformable from an initial vacuum tight configuration with the slitsclosed to a subsequent deformed configuration in which the slits open torelease the vacuum.
 16. The toy of claim 11 wherein the first vacuumrelease valve and the second vacuum release valve each include acompression spring that initially biases a vacuum passageway block thathas a seal thereon toward a plunger on the vacuum release valve for theseal and the plunger to initially form a vacuum seal.
 17. A toy movableon, and vacuum attachable to, horizontal and vertical surfacescomprising: a body having an upper portion and a lower portion, theupper portion and the lower portion being pivotally connected forswinging movement therebetween; at least four limbs connected to thebody including a left upper, right upper, left lower and right lower,the left upper and right lower defining a first opposite limb group andthe right upper and left lower defining a second opposite limb group;suction cups on each of the at least four limbs of the first oppositelimb group and the second opposite limb group, the suction cups eachhaving an interior with a vacuum passageway therethrough; first vacuumpassages in vacuum communication with the first opposite limb group andwith the vacuum passageways of the suction cups thereon; second vacuumpassages in vacuum communication with the second opposite limb group andwith the vacuum passageways of the suction cups thereon; a first vacuumrelease valve in vacuum communication with the vacuum passageway of atleast one of the suction cups on the first opposite limb group, thefirst vacuum release valve in the lower portion of the body; a secondvacuum release valve in vacuum communication with the vacuum passagewayof at least one of the suction cups on the second opposite limb group,the second vacuum release valve in the lower portion of the body; amotor causing the swinging movement between the upper portion of thebody and the lower portion of the body; a motor creating a vacuum in thefirst vacuum passages and in the second vacuum passages, the motorcreating a vacuum being deactivated upon the movement of the toy, thevacuum being released alternately in the first opposite limb group andin the second opposite limb group by one of the first vacuum releasevalve and the second vacuum release valve during alternate disengagementfrom the horizontal or vertical surfaces of the first opposite limbgroup and the second opposite limb group based upon the swingingmovement between the upper portion of the body and the lower portion ofthe body.
 18. The toy of claim 17 further comprising a remote control tocontrol the motor causing the swinging movement and the motor creating avacuum.
 19. The toy of claim 17 wherein the suction cups have on theinterior thereof ridges forming concentric rings that provide tractionand that form independent vacuum seal chambers.
 20. The toy of claim 17wherein the motor creating a vacuum includes flexible bellows for vacuumformation.
 21. The toy of claim 17 wherein the first vacuum releasevalve and the second vacuum release valve each include a membrane withslits therethrough, the membrane being resiliently deformable from aninitial vacuum tight configuration with the slits closed to a subsequentdeformed configuration in which the slits open to release the vacuum.22. The toy of claim 17 wherein the first vacuum release valve and thesecond vacuum release valve each include a compression spring thatinitially biases a vacuum passageway block that has a seal thereontoward a plunger on the vacuum release valve for the seal and theplunger to initially form a vacuum seal.